Detailed Rules

Below are some rule descriptions that go beyondthe basics
that a beginner would be expected to know, so this page is targeted for experienced players and aspiring referees. The CBA uses the rules established by the USAB. The list below is not comprehensive.

Updated: 8/31/2011

CBA Rules of game play:

Balls hitting the net and dropping to the ice remain in play. (The ceiling is out).

An incoming substitute is not eligible to play the ball until the departing player is off the ice. Penalty: minor for too many players on the ice.

A penalized player returning to the ice may not play a ball coming from the defensive zone until controlled outside the defensive zone by another player from either team; result is a face-off (not a minor). Note: The player may also carry the ball from the defensive zone themselves.

If a team starts with less than six players on any face-off, an incoming player… (see previous).

No immediate whistle on high sticking penalty. (Delayed like other penalties).

A player taking a shot is responsible for contact to an opponent’s body made above the shooter’s waist.
Note: This is a different penalty than slashing, high-sticking, or
dangerous play, any of which could be called instead, depending on the
circumstances.

A player may carefully push or kick a dropped broom to its owner if
it does not interfere with play (including another player’s progress).
Note: Players may hold only one broom.

The defending team may hand-pass behind their blue line in any
direction, with the pass starting & ending behind the blue line.
The goalie must hand-pass behind the goal line; of course, the ball may
go any direction when deflecting a shot, so the ref will need to use
judgment in determining whether the goalie was hand-passing or just
deflecting the ball. [Refs, please err in favor of the goalie.]

Administer hand-pass at point of stoppage (except lose offensive
zone). Note: This is different than most face-offs, which go back one
zone from where the infraction occurred.

A shot on goal by a team that is off-sides causes an off-sides whistle.

No attacker may be stationary in the goal crease when the ball is
outside of the crease – the result is a minor. Note: ‘Stationary’ will
be considered three seconds.

A kick into the crease goes back two zones (to outside offending
team’s blue line), unless made from the defensive zone, in which case
the other team maintains the offensive zone. Note: This is different
than most face-offs, which go back one zone from where the infraction
occurred.

Icing is shall be called with the exception of the short-handed team during a power play.

Icing is not waived if the goalie makes a play on the ball unless the goalie touches the ball.

Icing is also waived if the ball touches the crease, or if, in the
judgment of a referee, any player (except the goalie) could have played
the ball to prevent icing.

A “flagrant” minor is a major (i.e., a full 5 minutes).
“Flagrant” is in the judgment of the referee, but is generally
considered to be intent to injure or so reckless that the player should
have realized the high likelihood of injury.

Disrespecting a referee is a misconduct penalty, though referees have the option to give a lesser penalty.

Broomchecking, meaning a momentary stick-check coming up from under
an opponent’s stick for the purpose of preventing the opponent from
playing the ball, is allowed below the shoulders as long as the ref
does not judge it to be a dangerous play.

CBA-Specific rules:

Co-ed teams may not have more than four men on the ice. NOTE: This
“rule” has been in continual discussion; therefore, we recommend that
captains clarify before every season.

Abuse of CBA or rink property is a 10-minute misconduct; if the CBA
or rink property is broken in the process of being abused, the player
must pay for or replace it.

Each team is given one time-out per game.

Games may end in a tie, unless a winner MUST be determined for
play-off reasons (meaning a consolation game may end in a tie), in
which case a 5 min sudden-death overtime with 4 on 4, no goalie. In co-ed games, one of the 4 players must be a female. If there is no score during the 5 minute period, it becomes 3 on 3, no goalie (1 player is a female for both teams).

In the final minute of a running-clock game with a score
differential of 2 or less, if any rule violation is
made by a tied or leading team and it forces a stoppage of play, the
offending team will be forced to use their time-out if the
other team has already used their timeout. If both timeouts were
already used, then the referee will reset the clock at the face-off so
no game-time is lost. Note that such a stoppage does NOT go
hand-in-hand with a delay of game penalty, which will still be enforced
based on the rulebook. Icing is excluded from this rule because the
goalie can choose to play the ball, preventing a stoppage of play.

Examples:a) Team Glacier is winning 3-1 over Team Penguins.
Neither Team has used their time-out. Team Glacier trips Team Penguins
in the final minute. The tripping penalty is called as normal.
Because Team Penguins still has their time-out, they may choose whether
or not to stop the clock, so the referee does NOT stop the clock unless
Team Penguins calls their time-out. Note: No delay of game penalty has
occurred.b) Team Glacier is tied 1-1 with Team Penguins. Team
Penguins has used their time-out, but Team Glacier has not. Team
Glacier illegally hand-passes the ball in the final minute and forces a
stoppage of play. Because Team Penguins cannot stop the clock, the
referee forces Team Glacier to use their time-out. Note: No delay of
game penalty has occurred.c) Team Glacier is winning 9-8 over Team Penguins. Both teams have used their time-outs. Team Glacier intentionally
causes the ball to leave the rink in the final minute. Because Team
Penguins cannot stop the clock, the referee resets the clock so that,
at the face-off, it picks up at the time that the ball went off the
ice. Note: Team Glacier is called for a delay of game penalty per Rule
6, Section 8, Article 1 (page 21), which states that intentionally
causing the ball to leave the rink is a minor. NOTE: If
unintentional, then there is no penalty and no resetting of the clock
because no rule violation occurred, even if it take the referee all of
the remaining seconds to obtain a new ball. If this does not seem
“fair” to you at first glance, then ensure that your team is winning
before the final minute of the game.